Garden Demonstrator (Summer) – Dundurn National Historic Site – Hamilton, Ontario

Dundurn National Historic Site is the 19th century home of Sir Allan Napier MacNab, railway magnate, lawyer and Premier of the United Canadas (1854-1856) and his family. Dundurn Castle museum staff provide guided tours to tell the story of the family who lived above stairs and the servants who lived and worked below stairs.

The restored Historic Kitchen Garden is the 2-acre garden where costumed staff use 1850’s tools and plant varieties to grow food for Dundurn Castle’s historic kitchen. The garden is also a pleasure grounds which was enjoyed by the family and guests to the home. The garden is open to the public for free during the museum open hours, and is also used for school programs, summer camps, private tours, and workshops. The garden is managed by a combination of permanent staff and summer students.

Summer Student Garden Demonstrators:

Provide interpretation while engaging in historical gardening activities.
Wear period costume of a gardener and act the role.
Plant and maintain period gardens using both traditional and modern methods and equipment.
Research traditions, techniques, information and equipment for the 1850s gardens and estate grounds.
Plan and implement garden activities for special events such as Victorian gardening workshops and garden and grounds tours.
Open and close the historic garden as required.

The 2-acre Kitchen Garden is in full sun, and Gardener Demonstrators are required to be dressed in period costuming throughout the summer. Daily jobs include watering, shoveling compost and manure, weeding, and raking paths and beds.

Museum experience or a history background is not required but is considered an assets as well as previous experience doing physical work outside. Previous successful applicants have included students studying Engineering, Environmental Sciences, History, Political Science, and Music.

Applications will be accepted until January 29, 2016.

TO APPLY

Students interested in a Garden Demonstrator position should apply on the City of Hamilton website using the tab JOBS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (https://www.hamilton.ca/jobs-city). This will lead to all the postings for the City of Hamilton.

Use the posting listed as:
SPECIFIC TO COURSE OF STUDY/ADMINISTRATIVE SUMMER STUDENTS (Job ID 11166)
Create an account and login.
Select History/Museum studies as their course of study, and answer the questionnaire (The museum is categorized in this section however students are not required to be in this area of study)

The questionnaire is a general questionnaire for various museum positions in the city. They include historical interpreter, garden demonstrator, collections assistant, and gift shop clerk. The questions students will answer will reflect all those positions not just the garden demonstrator position.

When possible student should answer questions with position which they have a preference for working. For example in garden related questions it is fair to add into an answer that a preference is to “work at Dundurn but will welcome any employment opportunity” so that it is clear to HR that they prefer Dundurn but still leaves other options open for them.

If you have questions about the position and work location, please contact:
Franca Hicks (Curatorial Program Assistant at Dundurn Castle)
905-546-2424 x2524
franca.hicks@hamilton.ca

If you have questions about the hiring process please contact:
Ami Komocsi (Student Recruitment Coordinator)
905-546-2424 x2375
amy.komocsi@hamilton.ca

When applying, please indicate that you saw this posting at GoodWork.ca.

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